SBC LTER: Reef: Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Fish abundance

These data describe the abundance and size of fish species as part of SBCLTER's kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. This study began in 2000 in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA. The abundance and size of all taxa of resident kelp forest fish encountered along permanent transects are recorded at nine reef sites located along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel and at two sites on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. These sites reflect several oceanographic regimes in the channel and vary in distance from sources of terrestrial runoff. In these surveys, fish were counted in either a 40x2m benthic quadrat, or in the water parcel 0-2m off the bottom over the same area. The table in this data package documented the annual benthic fish community survey which was conducted once a year around late July or early August. The time period of data collection for the annual benthic fish community survey varied among the 11 kelp forest sites. Sampling at BULL, CARP, and NAPL began in 2000, sampling at the other 6 mainland sites (AHND, AQUE, IVEE, GOLB, ABUR, MOHK) began in 2001 (transects 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 at IVEE were added in 2011). Data collection at the two Santa Cruz Island sites (SCTW and SCDI) began in 2004. The monthly fish survey at ABUR (Transect 1, 2, and 3), AQUE (Transect1), and MOHK (Transect 1) in 2002. The Transect 2 and 3 at ABUR were discontinued in June 2006. See Methods for more information.